Long Beach, California, USA video

Vannia Ibarguen:
MFA Graduate in Dance of the University of Maryland, performer, choreographer and dance teacher. Her focus is in the interaction between dance and technology, and also the relationship between classical, contemporary and folk dance styles. Vannia has danced with Ballet Municipal de Lima, DC’s Teatro de Danza Contemporanea, Nejla Yatkin’s NY2Dance and the Maryland Dance Ensemble. She has received awards in Argentina, Cuba and the US, and the NDEO Excellence in Education Award (National Dance Education Organization) in 2009. She is the Director of V.I.D.A – Vannia Ibarguen Dance Arts, creating artistic and pedagogical events and organizing festivals in South America; and Artistic Director of Global Water Dances, biennial event that takes place in more than 100 locations around the world to raise awareness about water issues through dance and movement.

History of Site and Related Water Issues:

Most plastic pollution at sea starts out on land as litter on beaches, streets and sidewalks. Rain or overwatering flushes that litter through a storm drain system or directly to creeks, streams and rivers that lead to the ocean. After plastics enter the marine environment they slowly photodegrade into smaller pieces that marine life can mistake for food, sometimes with fatal results. Ocean gyres concentrate plastic pollution in five main areas of the world’s ocean and various research groups are bringing back alarming data documenting plastics impacts.
Simple local actions can help make an impact to solve this global issue. Join us in protecting the coast and Rise Above Plastics!
Here are ten easy things you can do to reduce your ‘plastic footprint’ and help keep plastics out of the marine environment:

Choose to reuse when it comes to shopping bags and bottled water.

Cloth bags and metal or glass reusable bottles are available locally at great prices.

Reduce everyday plastics such as sandwich bags and juice cartons by replacing them with a reusable lunch bag/box that includes a thermos.

Bring your to-go mug with you to the coffee shop, smoothie shop or restaurants that let you use them. A great way to reduce lids, plastic cups and/or plastic-lined cups.

Go digital! No need for plastic cds, dvds and jewel cases when you can buy your music and videos online.

Seek out alternatives to the plastic items that you rely on.

Recycle. If you must use plastic, try to choose #1 (PETE) or #2 (HDPE), which are the most commonly recycled plastics. Avoid plastic bags and polystyrene foam as both typically have very low recycling rates.

Volunteer at a beach cleanup. Surfrider Foundation Chapters often hold cleanups monthly or more frequently.

* Section I. RITUAL is an opening ceremony specific with drums and chants, opening the space for the performance.
* Section II. LOCAL DANCE is a dance concert addressing local water issues and recovery efforts, made by local artists.
– H2O Dance Company – Rebekah Brown
Dancers: Sara Blodgett, Casey Flores, Leigh Ratcliffe, Korey Van Hoy
– VIDA – Vannia Ibarguen Dance Arts
Dancers: Jamie Carr, Venus Fields, Vannia Ibarguen, Christina Morales-Grace, Vanessa O’Neal, Palmyra Rau, Tian Walker
– Dance4Oceans – Kanna Jones
Dancers: Victoria Calder, Phoebe Kuo, Kara Nehls, Allie Romano, and Maya Vargas
* Section III GLOBAL DANCE presents choreography done simultaneously by all GWD performers worldwide to the same piece of music, connecting participants and audience globally. Participants in Long Beach will include individuals and families from local schools/universities and senior citizens. Previously to the event, there will be open sessions throughout the city by partner organizations and dance schools to learn and rehearse the sequence. The sequence will be performed by community participants and by the performers who danced in the Local Dance.
* Section IV. PARTICIPATORY DANCE invites audiences to travel back down to the ocean at the conclusion for a movement sequence facilitated by Vannia Ibarguen. It will flow into a family-friendly dance party.

Environmental Impact:

We are joining the 30 minute Beach Clean up the CAT team and the Surfrider Foundation is organizing on June 17th on Granada Beach, and showing an excerpt of our Dance on that day.